Feminist News

US Majority Supports ISAF Expansion in Afghanistan, Survey Finds

Most Americans (67 percent) support expanding UN peacekeeping operations beyond Kabul in Afghanistan, according to a recent survey by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA). PIPA director Steven Kull explained that despite concurrent deployment of US troops elsewhere, Americans are supportive of efforts in Afghanistan "[p]resumably... prompted by a combination of a feeling of some moral responsibility for the consequences of the US war against the Taliban with a belief that instability and lawlessness can make Afghanistan continue to be a breeding ground for terrorist organizations." Still, results show the situation in Afghanistan is garnering only loose attention, with only 33 percent admitting to following Afghanistan news very or fairly closely. The poll, conducted by Knowledge Networks over a one week period in June, questioned 1,051 respondents and displayed a 3.5 percent margin of error.

Meanwhile, the situation in Afghanistan remains unstable, with continuing murders of aid workers, attacks on United Nations de-mining operations, Taliban-like restrictions in some provinces, factional fighting, and the bombing of girls' schools. The Feminist Majority continues leading the call for International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) expansion, increased reconstruction funding, and for more resources to support the work of the Ministry of Women's Affairs and the Independent Human Rights Commission.